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“Sometimes I gotta not be popular to reach you,” rapper Brother Ali sings to his son on the song Faheem.
As a father of seven (soon to be eight) children, I get that.
If you love your children, nothing hurts worse than watching them suffer – or watching them become the source of others’ suffering. And disciplining them – which often produces temporary suffering for all concerned – is no fun, either. It is, however, incredibly necessary – especially in a world which increasingly insists there are no consequences for our actions.
I can certainly relate to what South Carolina first district congressional candidate Catherine Templeton is currently experiencing as it relates to the legal drama swirling around her 18-year-old son. I have no doubt what is happening pains her to her core.
Does it pain her enough to do the right thing, though?
Templeton is running for South Carolina’s first congressional district seat against Nancy Mace, a second -term incumbent who is being targeted because she had the temerity to stand against the Washington, D.C. swamp and its uniparty leaders. If you care about freedom and free markets – as this media outlet does – Mace has been a reliable vote. In fact, that’s why she is being targeted.
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“The Swamp has decided it’s time to try and cancel her,” our Prioleau Alexander noted back in December, hailing Mace as a rare “reach across the aisle Republican” who has repeatedly “said the quiet part out loud.”
Were the first district still being represented by this politician (or this one) I could see why a change would be necessary … but it isn’t. Mace is putting the Lowcountry first. Period.
Templeton? Although she campaigned for governor six years ago as a conservative, her congressional candidacy is backed by the Washington swamp. In fact, it is a product of the Washington swamp. As a result, I have grave reservations about her ability to provide the same sort of independent, fiscally conservative representation first district voters are currently receiving from Mace. Frankly, I think Templeton would be a status quo vote – a vote for more government and less freedom.
But those aren’t the “grave reservations” I am addressing today.
As our media outlet exclusively reported earlier this week, Templeton’s son – Hampton Brooks Templeton – was arrested on a felony first degree assault and battery charge following an incident at a house party in Mount Pleasant, S.C. on the evening of January 12, 2024.
According to a follow-up report from Caitlin Byrd of The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier, Templeton is accused of “brutally beating one of his classmates to the point they suffered at least four seizures and had to be hospitalized.”
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This media outlet has obtained documentation of some of the injuries sustained by Templeton’s alleged victim, however we are declining to publish them at this time as they are part of a pending investigation. What we can reliably report, however, is that this isn’t the first time Templeton has allegedly used his fists to settle a dispute – nor was it the first time he was identified as the “primary aggressor” in a conflict.
Substance abuse issues are also part of the problem, we are told.
As one of our Mount Pleasant sources noted, “Hampton is off the rails.”
We can also reliably report Catherine Templeton has been intimately aware of her son’s issues for some time now – and has reportedly engaged in efforts to shield him from the consequences of his actions. Prior to the publication of our report earlier this week, we were already investigating several allegations against Hampton Templeton – including one alleged assault his mother “conspired to cover up,” sources familiar with the situation confirmed.
Indeed, I made the editorial decision to report on Templeton’s arrest because – based on our preliminary research – I believe him to be a danger to his community. And I further believed that failing to report on his actions would have been a dereliction of our duty to promote public safety.
As a parent, though, I get where Templeton is coming from. Completely. Striving to protect our children is instinctual – especially in mothers. Also, it’s important to note that while we have received persistent, credible reports of an accommodative posture from Templeton as it relates to her son vis-à-vis members of the Mount Pleasant community, no one can say for sure how she is addressing the situation behind closed doors.
While her campaign has given the decided impression of shrugging the whole thing off, I am reliably informed the candidate has been agonizing over the situation for months.
How could she not be?
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What we can say for sure, though, is whatever Templeton is doing isn’t working. And given this latest incident, it seems to me utterly negligent of her to continue pursuing a congressional bid.
Catherine Templeton is a brilliant, accomplished woman who has served her state well as a two-time cabinet director under former governor Nikki Haley. She has also achieved tremendous success in the private sector. She should let that be her legacy. Certainly for the time being.
Politicians – especially “Republican” ones – love to talk about putting family first. Think of the dozens of times we have heard candidates or elected officials talk about resigning, not running again or suspending their campaigns to “spend more time with their family.”
In Templeton’s case, no one would have any trouble accepting the veracity of such a statement.
How come? Because that is exactly what this situation calls for …
The decision to suspend her campaign immediately should be an easy one for Templeton. After all, this isn’t even her fight. It’s a D.C. fight. It’s someone else’s vendetta, not hers. It’s not even about her … it’s about Mace angering the GOP establishment.
Is carrying that establishment’s water really worth putting her family through what’s to come? Is it really worth neglecting her son in his time of need? Or worse … covering for him at the very moment he needs to be held accountable?
Those are the questions Templeton ought to keep foremost in her mind as this story continues to unfold …
UPDATE |
Guess Templeton’s staying in …
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina and before that he was a bass guitarist and dive bar bouncer. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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21 comments
Pretty disgusting stuff from you Mr. Folks. I am no Templeton fan, or any other Trump Cult Member for that matter, but you have to be joking going after her kid. This kid has problems, but he is certainly no more violent than Donald J. Trump and certainly less of a menace to society. You know the guy who asked if the military could shoot protesters in the knees so he could get to his photo op. The guy who told his followers at a rally to punch people who were protesting him in the face.
The guy who sat by and watched his worshipers attack our capitol with the intent to murder Mike Pence and numerous others. The guy who has been found by a jury to have sexually assaulted a woman, who has been accused of assault by numerous women, and who has bragged about assaulting women on tape. Not to mention your personal history of domestic violence. How can you stomach the hypocrisy?
Nancy Mace is a spineless coward who has kissed Trump’s ass over and over. She has no morals and no ethics. She says she is a rape victim, but then supports a man for President who sexually assaulted a woman, with no remorse. She is bad for her district, bad for South Carolina, and a bad example for our children. But that seems to be what the Party of Trump has to offer us these days.
Hey, Kool Aid!
No Way! You won’t get me to drink the Trump Kool-Aid. Everything I said is public record or on tape.
Frankly, Frank, I need to be frank. Straight out of Urban Dictionary, of which I am certain you are familiar, “Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is a mental condition in which a person has been driven effectively insane due to their dislike of Donald Trump, to the point at which they will abandon all logice and reason.”
According to a 2016 LA Times report, “In the first stage of the disease, victims lose all sense of proportion.” Frankly, Frank, I frankly believe you have achieved Stage 1.
Quickly moving on to the mid-level stage, “TDS has a profound effect on the victim’s vocabularly. Sufferers speak a distinctive language consisting solely of hyperbole.” Frank, one could argue that describing a woman as “spineless” could go two ways. Reasonable people would describe Nancy Mace as indeed physically possessing a spine. If she didn’t have one, she’d be just a pool of humanity on the floor. However, Mace is the first woman to graduate from The Citadel Corps of Cadets program, graduating magna cum laude. She is a respected member of the South Carolina House, is resolute, driven, strong and courageous in the face of adversity. I’d say Mace is definitely not spineless in character. Frankly, Frank, you have definitely progressed to Stage 2.
Stage 3 is to “lose the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality.” Frank, frankly I can’t say you’re in Stage 3 … yet. Take a chill pill. Calm down. The sky’s not falling … not today, in spite of the guy who sent himself on fire in front of the NYC courthouse while Trump was inside mumbling, “This is a crock of @#$%&!”
Frank, if you ever decide to set yourself on fire to publicly protest Trump, rest assured you will, indeed, be in Stage 3 TDS.
“but you have to be joking going after her kid.”
Just pretend his name is Hunter, that should clear up any objections from Republicans.
By the way, I’m aware Hunter is an adult. So is the 18-year-old thug.
There is real Trump Derangement Syndrome out there, but you have the wrong definition.
Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is a mental condition in which a person becomes delusional due to their worship of Donald Trump, to the point at which they will abandon all logic and reason and believe everyone is lying; and the only source of truth is a man who has spent his entire life as a conman and liar.”
I am not insane or delusional. Everything I ever say about Trump or his followers I can document. It’s either public record or on tape. I watched January 6 in horror, in real time. I saw the people attack the Capitol. I saw them beat policemen and break down doors and break out windows. I saw them erect a gallows on the Mall and heard them yell “Hang Mike Pence” and “Where’s Nancy”. We know Trump stood by and did nothing. I saw the tape of him telling his followers to punch protestors in the face. When he wanted BLM protestors cleared from Layfette Square, so he could get his picture with the upside-down bible in front of a church he was not even a member of, he asked why the military could not shoot the protestors in the legs.
Trump supporters are in a cult. They have lost all grasp on common sense and the ability to assess reality.
As for Nancy Mace. I stand by my assessment. A spineless coward. I don’t give a crap that she went to the Citadel. Big deal. Women had been successful at the real military academies for two decades by that time. When the time came to stand up to Trump she buckled. She went to Mar A Lago and begged forgiveness and she supports a man she knows was responsible for the attack on our Capitol and who has sexually assaulted numerous women. She is not alone. Most of her party are now documented, spineless cowards.
So reporting factual arrest reports is “going after her kid”? Yeah, ok
I am assuming he will be off to college in the fall since he is a HS senior. This story will likely not end well for her family.
First it was the Palins. Then it was the Hoe-berts (Boebert). Now the Templetons join the conservative white trash family in DC.
Don’t forget about the Bidens.
Oh, I haven’t forgotten about the Bidens, don’t worry. I’ve got lots of pictures. Want me to share?
Templeton, right;y, won’t make to the primary.
When my oldest child was 8 years old I took a day off to take him to USC for Brad Scott’s football camp. Before I could get out of the door, I received a disturbing call from my boss which was rude and uncalled for. It was a matter that could have waited until the next day when I got back to work. I fumed all the way to Columbia and it hit me that in 10 years I would be making the trip back to Columbia again and then I wouldn’t be dropping him off for a 4 day camp. I would be leaving him for college. I realized that I didn’t even like this job anymore. I made the decision to leave that job and made a huge career leap of faith that put my children 1st and enabled me to work a schedule where my children hardly even knew that I was a working mother. We only get to raise them once. My advice to Ms Templeton would be for her to put her political aspirations aside and concentrate on her family and this troubled young man.
With you 100%. Thanks for sharing.
In the words of Hannah Waddingham “Oh my god, you’d never say that to a man, my friend,”
Testing testicle tested today.
I always assumed that the “spend more time with family” justification was just code, and that people with good, moral upbringing just let it go without actually believing it. I figure it means there’s a case like this one, an affair, doing poorly in the polls, or some other skeleton in the closet that they’d rather bow out than have exposed.
Her son should be top priority! Women are Mother’s regardless of their career aspirations and are usually the one’s to give comfort and direction in a situation like this. With his anger problems, he should be held out of college for 6 months to a year and receive extensive counseling! If he is sent off to college, this isn’t going to end well for someone in their family.
What the hell is the world coming to? Where has “Daddy” been the whole time this little S…Show has been getting in trouble with the law? I know its a case of being raised “your going in time out”. The only counseling he needs is a boot in the ass and some time behind bars. College is not for him. Better yet Mommy and Daddy can give junior a one way ticket to the train depot in Yemassee S.C.. Those wonderful folks on Paris Island will provide him with a nurturing environment where he will receive a proper education and extensive counseling. There the POS will learn all about discipline, team work and how to walk like a man!
You are an admitted heroin addict that has been accused of physical and sexual assault, and many other things; if he makes you afraid Bill, he makes me afraid. You changed your name presumably due to your criminal past, I wonder if that will happen to him? Good of you to attack him on the internet for money. Remember when you had to hang out with middle schoolers at break and lunch because no one in high school would hang out with you when you were in the 11th grade? Why was that Bill Folks? We all remember.
It is not about “the person”, it IS about the Country. A President Trump WOULD be good for the Country, if not the World. THIS should be our priority. Templeton has spent way too much time away from home and it shows.